BOSTON — David Price was happy to return to Boston this week because it gave him a chance to complete some unfinished business: taking advantage of the city’s Hubway bike system.

“The last time we came here, me and [Chris Archer] went to eat before the makeup game, and on our walk back we saw the Hubway right there,” Price said. “I said, I can't believe I just now saw this for the first time. I would've been riding bikes throughout the city, or at least to the field, if I knew that. I told Arch, since we aren't going to come back here this year, I'll have to do it next year. But fortunately for us, we were able to make it back here.”

Even without the allure of the Hubway system, Price would be justified in looking forward to pitching in Game 2 in Boston on Saturday. In 22 1/3 innings at Fenway Park this year, he’s posted a 1.21 ERA and an 0.58 WHIP, striking out 20 and walking just two.

His career numbers at Fenway are similarly impressive. In 10 starts in Boston, Price has a 1.94 ERA and an 0.94 WHIP, holding opposing batters to a .183/.258/.289 line. He declined to divulge the “secrets” to his success, but said facing a tough opponent brings out the best in him.

“It's just pitching against the Red Sox or pitching against a team like the Yankees, you know the history behind those franchises,” Price said. “You know what they're capable of doing. Every single year, year in, year out, they're going to be a postseason team, and you know you're going to have to come with your best. … So it heightens your awareness. You start feeling butterflies probably a day earlier than what you normally would. Pitching in this ballpark, pitching against that team, it makes you want it just a little bit more.”

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he wasn’t surprised to hear of Price’s cycling exploits in Boston.

“Riding the bike’s normally my thing, but it doesn’t surprise me anything that David does,” Maddon said. “I love his ways. He’s a young man that’s – he’s Peter Pan. He’s going to be that way forever, and I love that about him. I wish more of our guys could be that way. Anything David does should not surprise you.”

Price may have eternal youth on his side, but John Lackey, who will oppose him Saturday, has at least enjoyed a return to something very much resembling his younger self this year. Overshadowed at times by Clay Buchholz’s miniscule 1.74 ERA and Jon Lester’s stretches of dominance, Lackey has been Boston's most consistently strong starter this year. Like Price, he’s also pitched his best at Fenway, with a 2.47 ERA and 1.03 WHIP at home.

“I don't know what that is, because really, this place probably isn't one of best places to pitch,” Lackey said. “It should be the other way around. We've got a great fan base, and it's a fun place, good atmosphere, so who knows? If I knew, I'd pitch better on the road, I guess.”

Sox manager John Farrell emphasized the work Lackey has done to return to top form after missing all of 2012 due to Tommy John surgery.

“Coming back from Tommy John, that rehab is pretty straightforward, but the commitment that he made to reshape his body, to put himself where he is physically – to me, that's correlated to the consistency that he's been in our rotation,” Farrell said. “The reshaping of the body has allowed him to command the baseball, just because he's been able to repeat his delivery more consistently. And he's been probably one of our top two starters in terms of consistency, start to finish.”

Rays manager Joe Maddon knows Lackey from his days as an Angels bench coach, back when Lackey was in Anaheim. It was apparent to him, as it was to many observers, that Lackey wasn’t himself on the mound in the months leading up to his surgery.

“John Lackey, we were teammates back with the Angels. And he helped pay for my daughter's wedding in 2002. So I was always grateful to John,” Maddon said. “Great teammate, great competitor. He and I used to go out for beers after the games. The biggest difference I see is, obviously (he) was hurt (before 2012). I knew something was wrong when he wasn't pitching well. He was definitely better than that.

“Now you're seeing him at full force, where he's well, because he's got all the weapons, plus the makeup to be as good as you're seeing right now. So it does not surprise me in the least that he's well, pitching this good.”

Lackey was quick to dispel the notion that he’ll try to control his emotions during his first postseason start in four years. For him, they’re integral to the game.

“I'm going to be emotional,” Lackey said. “I'm going to be fired up. It's part of the way it is. That's part of the reason I'm still pitching.”

Farrell spoke highly of Price and of both teams’ rotations in general, saying he expects the Sox’ and Rays’ pitchers to match up fairly evenly.

“He's a damn good pitcher, a talented one, and he's not the only one,” Farrell said of Price. “We feel if both sides, and in particular when we look at our starters and pitchers, if we pitch to our capability, this should be a close-played series.”